*John Callinan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLUB leagues are proposed to commence in March while the majority of Clare GAA’s sub-committees have been finalised for the coming season.
Attempts for ex Treasurer Bernard Keane to become PRO of Munster GAA were undone by his vocal criticism of the conduct of the provincial body in trying to seed the Munster SFC according to John Callinan.
Suggested dates for the opening inter club league games in 2026, dates for the start of the various adult championships, the naming of some of the board’s sub committees, a debate on whether or not eligibility for minor should be extended from under 17 to under 18 and another discussion on how many players clubs should be allowed to regrade from one grade to the nest were the issues which dominated discussion at the firs county board meeting of 2026 which took place at Clare GAA headquarters in Clareabbey on Tuesday night.
It was a first board meeting in their new roles for newly appointed Ann Marie Moran (Head of Operations), Cathal Killmartin (treasurer), Fintan Leamy (coaching officer) and Leah Talty (Irish officer), while former Irish officer Joe Garry was attending in his new role of delegate to the Munster Council
Fixture schedule:
In the proposed fixture schedule outlined by Colm Browne, chairman of the masters fixture committee, the race for division 1 to 4 football leagues will begin on the weekend of March 7 with round two a week later when the divisions from 5 upwards will get underway. Some of the games that week may be played on St. Patricks Day, Tuesday March 17.
The race for the hurling leagues will begin a week later, March 21 and round two following the next weekend.
Should clubs not agree to playing two rounds of football league games on successive weekends the alternative will be to have a full round of hurling and football league games over the June Bank holiday weekend. In the draft presented at this week’s meeting there is no dual weekend of fixtures (hurling and football.
Turning to the under 21 hurling and football championships, the recommendation is to revert to the format used in 2024 with groups of 8 playing a knock out competition. The four first round winners will proceed to the semi-finals with the four first round losers playing off in a shield competition.
Clubs were asked to come back with any recommendations before the February meeting which will take place on Tuesday, February 10 when the schedule for the year will be ratified.
Committees appointed:
The following sub committees for 2026 were ratified;
Competitions control committee (CCC): Deirdre Chaplin, Aidan Bohannon, Ann Marie Moran, Eoin Brennan, Gavin Moroney, Martin Hehir, Rory McGann, Rory Hickey (referee administrator), Tom Duggan, Kieran Keating (board chairman) plus one to be added
Masters Fixtures: Colm Browne (chairman) Tom Duggan, Padraic Boland, Martin Hehir, Tony O’Donnell, David O’Brien (St Joseph’s Miltown);
Hearings committee: Dan O’Connor (chairman), Gerry O’Malley (secretary), John Morris, Concepta O’Connor, Michael O’Regan with David O’Connell as a standby member.
Safety and Facilities committee: Ambrose Heagney (chairman), Conor Gilligan, Mark Quinn, Kieran Keating, David Hoey with one more to be added.
Referees committee: Rory Hickey, Rory McGann, Barry Keating, Fergal O’Brien, Ger Hoey;
Finance committee: Cathal Kilmartin (treasurer), Sean Chambers, Kieran Keating, Deirdre Murphy, John McInerney, Denis Cullinan
Planning and training committee: Paddy Smyth (chairman), Sean McMahon, Patricia O’Grady, Vincent Delaney;
Audit and Risk committee: Paul O’Sullivan, Fergal Cahilll, Vincent Delaney, Aileen Doohan
Demographics committee: Neil O’Brien (chairman), Theresa McMahon, Andrew Monahan, Dominick O’Shea, Paul Hogan, Bernard Keane, Michael McGuane, and Ciaran Lynch.
Coiste na nÓg Iomaint: Stephen McNamara (chairman), Pat Gavin (secretary), Declan Moroney, Gavin Moroney, Paul Gannon, Louise Casey, Fergal O’Brien, Jim Corbett.
Coiste na nÓg Peil; Joe Considine (chairman) Frances O’Sullivan (secretary), Odhran O’Dwyer, Barry Keating, Alan Malone, Paul Reidy, Brian Dillon, Kieran Hassett, Denis O’Driscoll, Alan Fitzgerald, Carl Walsh.
The Coaching and games committee, the cultural committee, the I.T. committee will be appointed at the February meeting.
Callinan criticises Cork & Kerry:
Informing the meeting that he had just completed his first season as a delegate to the Munster Council, John Callinan paid tribute to Bernard Keane who has just completed his five year stint as a delegate to the Provincial body.
Noting that Bernard wasn’t in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting he thanked his for his guidance and assistance during the past year. During that time Bernard was strong in his challenge “opposing Cork and Kerry who tried to organise the Munster championship for themselves”.
Callinan went on to note that Bernard was a candidate for the position of Munster PRO at last week’s convention when “he suffered for what he did for Clare football during the year”. the Clarecastle man was critical of Cork and Kerry and the top table whom he said didn’t support Keane last week when Richard Tobin from Waterford was elected as the new Provincial council PRO.
Under 17 or Under 18:
Clarecastle want the minor championship returned to an under 18 competition instead of U17 which it is at present. The Magpies delegate Tommy Guilfoyle spoke passionately in favour of the change at his week’s meeting and it led to a good debate.
Some delegates were supportive of moving to under 18 but only if under 18’s were not allowed to play adult competition.
Others asked if the change to under 18 happens would it mean that the other underage grades would then revert to under 14 and under 16 (currently it is under 13 and 15).
Board chairman Kieran Keating told the meeting that any change cannot happen in 2026 as the board’s bye-laws had been signed off by Croke Park.
Clubs were asked to discuss the matter at their meetings and come back with their views to the February meeting.
Regrading issues:
Inagh/Kilnamona want a change to the number clubs are allowed to re-grade. Currently the number is five and following a motion from Cooraclare at the recent convention clubs now can have two over 40’s re-graded in addition to the five.
The Inagh/Kilnamona proposal which was put to the meeting by Shane Lenihan was to have the number increased to seven plus the two over 40’s.
He instanced clubs having a lot of players who don’t get any hurling because of the limit on the numbers being re-graded and he spoke of different systems used in other counties.
He disagreed with chairman Kieran Keating’s statement that a change to the system cannot be made this year as the board’s bye-laws have already been signed off on by Croke Park.
Inagh-Kilnamona’s Paul Gannon supported Lenihan when he told the meeting that they “have checked it out and it can be done this year”.
The issue is to be raised again at the February meeting on Tuesday February 10.
Scór
The Clare Scor finals will take place on Tuesday February 20, newly elected Irish officer, Leah Talty informed this week’s meeting.
Club Summit
Croke Park will be the venue for a club summit on Saturday February 7 when a variety of experts will speak on many topics. Clubs wishing to attend should contact Clare board officials.
